Belén

Belén is a canton in Costa Rica's Heredia province in the Central Valley that defies every expectation: with barely 11.81 km² of territory and just over 22,000 inhabitants, it has built a sports policy that rivals cities ten times its size. Founded on 8 June 1907 with its seat in San Antonio, its territory was inhabited in pre-Columbian times by the Huetar people and bears the name given to it by Bishop Joaquín Anselmo Llorente, who compared the peace of the place to that of Bethlehem during his pastoral visits.

In terms of sport and infrastructure, Belén invests approximately USD 1.2 million annually to maintain top-level facilities — a disproportionately high figure for a canton of its size. The Estadio Polideportivo de Belén and a network of neighborhood sports centres drive weekly programs reaching more than 8,500 participants: sports initiation in all schools, Recreational Sundays, the Belén Libre project, and specific programs for people with disabilities, senior citizens, and early childhood. This commitment to inclusion and diversity was one of the key factors that caught the attention of the international evaluation committee.

In December 2023, during the ACES Europe international gala, Belén was proclaimed American City of Sport 2024, becoming the first Costa Rican canton to receive this award. The distinction, endorsed by UNESCO, recognized not only the infrastructure but Belén's ability to weave a culture of movement into the everyday fabric of its community, proving that the size of a city does not determine the greatness of its sports project.